One thing that has worked for me when evaluating a new/different component in my system is not to look for an immediate difference or improvement when you first fire up the new component. Rather, just spend time listening to it for awhile with familiar music, like over a period of days, and then switch back to the old piece of gear. For my ears, it's easier to pick out differences and make a good comparison in this way and it will let your ears/brain zero in on differences in the old component vs. the new.
All too often I have hooked up a new component (like cd player) and at first it's difficult to hear any difference. But it can be very apparent after spending more time listening to it and then switching back to the old component. -jz
All too often I have hooked up a new component (like cd player) and at first it's difficult to hear any difference. But it can be very apparent after spending more time listening to it and then switching back to the old component. -jz